Flexible high-output nanogenerator based on lateral ZnO nanowire array
Guang Zhu1, Rusen Yang, Sihong Wang
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0245, USA.
Nano Letters
|August 12, 2010
Summary
A new scalable sweeping-printing method fabricates flexible high-output nanogenerators (HONGs) that harvest mechanical energy. These devices can power small electronics, marking progress in self-powered systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Energy Harvesting
Background:
- Flexible nanogenerators are crucial for self-powered electronic systems.
- Efficiently harvesting ambient mechanical energy remains a challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scalable method for fabricating high-output flexible nanogenerators.
- To demonstrate the practical application of these nanogenerators in powering electronic devices.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of flexible high-output nanogenerators (HONGs) using a scalable sweeping-printing method.
- Transferring vertically aligned ZnO nanowires (NWs) to a receiving substrate to form horizontally aligned arrays.
- Depositing parallel stripe electrodes to connect the NWs.
Main Results:
- Achieved an open-circuit voltage of up to 2.03 V and a peak output power density of approximately 11 mW/cm³ with a single HONG layer.
- Successfully stored generated electric energy using capacitors.
- Demonstrated powering a commercial light-emitting diode (LED).
Conclusions:
- The scalable sweeping-printing method is effective for fabricating flexible HONGs.
- These nanogenerators represent a significant advancement for self-powered devices by harvesting environmental energy.
- This research paves the way for practical applications of nanowire-based piezoelectric nanogenerators in self-powered nanosystems.
